Art Monk
Washington Redskins, 1980-1993
New York Jets, 1994
Philadelphia Eagles, 1995
Art Monk finished his 16-year NFL career with 940 receptions for 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns. Monk played the first 14 years with the Washington Redskins and won three Super Bowls with the team.
What many people might not remember about Monk is that the Hall of Famer played a season with the Jets in 1994 and ended his career after a season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995.
Bruce Smith
Buffalo Bills, 1985-1999
Washington Redskins, 2000-2003
During his time with the Buffalo Bills, Bruce Smith was one of the most beloved defensive ends in the NFL. Smith was drafted by the Bills in 1985 and stayed with them until 1999. During his time in Buffalo he went to four straight Super Bowls and was selected to 11 Pro Bowls.
In 2000, Smith parted ways with the Bills and suited up for the Redskins. While Smith was clearly out of his prime, it was with Washington that he broke the all-time sack record, previously held by the late, great Reggie White. Smith finally retired in 2003 with 1,224 tackles and 200 sacks.
Cris Carter
Philadelphia Eagles, 1987-1989
Minnesota Vikings, 1990-2001
Miami Dolphins, 2002
Cris Carter began his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he made a name for himself with the Minnesota Vikings. With Minnesota, Carter became a three-time All-Pro and played in eight-straight Pro Bowls. The only player with more receptions in the 90's was the legendary Jerry Rice.
After the 2001 season, Carter opted out of his contract and shopped around for a new team. Instead of signing elsewhere he became an analyst on HBO's Inside the NFL. But by Week 9, the Dolphins had lured Carter out of retirement. Carter struggled in his return to the NFL, and once the season was over, he retired again, this time for good.
Deacon Jones
Los Angeles Rams, 1961-1971
San Diego Chargers, 1972-1973
Washington Redskins, 1974
No one had ever heard of the term "sack" until Deacon Jones came around. Nicknamed the Secretary of Defense, Jones unofficially tallied 26 sacks in 14 games in 1967 (sacks were not officially recorded until 1982) and claims to have recorded 173.5 sacks during his entire career.
In 1972, Jones was part of a multi-player trade and was sent to the San Diego Chargers. Jones was still a force in San Diego as he led all Chargers' defensive linemen in tackles and was named to the Pro Bowl. Jones would go on to finish his career with the Redskins in 1974.
Earl Campbell
Houston Oilers, 1978-1984
New Orleans Saints, 1984-1985
A Heisman Trophy winner in 1977, Campbell was the first overall pick in the 1978 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. That year he was named Offensive Rookie of the Year and the MVP and was an instant sensation. He led the NFL in rushing from 1978-1980, played in five Pro Bowls and finished his career with 9,407 yards and 74 rushing TDs.
In 1984, Campbell was traded to the New Orleans Saints, but his skills were already on the decline. He played a diminshed role for the Saints in 1984 and 1985 before retiring during the preseason of 1986.
Emmitt Smith
Dallas Cowboys, 1990-2002
Arizona Cardinals, 2003-2004
Emmitt Smith is one of the greatest running backs of all time and is the NFL's all-time rushing leader. In 1993, he became the only running back to ever win a Super Bowl, the NFL rushing crown and NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP honors all in the same season. Smith was named to eight Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowls.
In 2003, Smith joined the Arizona Cardinals, but he could never recapture the magic of his days with the Cowboys. After two seasons, Smith was released by the Cardinals and signed a one-day contract with Dallas so he could retire a Cowboy.
Eric Dickerson
Los Angeles Rams, 1983-1987
Indianapolis Colts, 1987-1991
Los Angeles Raiders, 1992
Atlanta Falcons, 1993
Eric Dickerson is arguably one of the greatest running backs of all time. He is most known for his time with the Los Angeles Rams and the Indianapolis Colts when he was named to six Pro Bowls and was a five-time All Pro. He also holds the record for most rushing yards in a season with 2,105 in 1984.
His last couple of years with the Colts, though, were marred by contract disputes and suspensions. Dickerson was traded to the Raiders, where he showed glimpses of his old self but couldn't put everything together for the whole season. Following the 1992 season, Dickerson was traded to the Falcons, where he played a backup role. The Falcons then tried to trade Dickerson to the Packers in 1993, but the RB retired after failing a physical.
Jerry Rice
San Francisco 49ers, 1985-2000
Oakland Raiders, 2001-2004
Seattle Seahawks, 2004
Denver Broncos, 2005
You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't think Jerry Rice is the best receiver in NFL history. Rice finished his career with 1,549 receptions, 22,895 yards and 209 touchdowns. He is the all-time leader in every major statistical category for receivers, was selected to 13 Pro Bowls and was named a 10-time All-Pro.
Rice had some success with the Raiders, but everyone will remember him as a 49er. He won three Super Bowl rings with San Francisco (1985, 1989, 1990) and was named the MVP at Super Bowl XXIII.
Rice left for the Raiders in 2001, tallying 83 receptions for 1,139 yards and nine touchdowns. He followed it up with an even better season in 2002 with 92 catches, 1,211 yards and seven touchdowns. It started to go downhill after that, though.
Rice left the Raiders four games into the 2004 season and joined the Seahawks. At the end of the season, Rice tried to make the Denver Broncos' roster during the 2005 preseason, but he retired before the season began.
Joe Montana
San Francisco 49ers, 1979-1992
Kansas City Chiefs, 1993-1994
Widely considered the best quarterback under pressure, Joe Montana was an astounding 4-0 in the Super Bowl (1982, 1985, 1988, 1990) and won three Super Bowl MVP awards (1982, 1985 and 1990). He tallied 40,551 yards and 273 touchdowns over the course of his career and led his teams to 31 fourth-quarter come-from-behind wins.
After missing the entire 1991 season and most of 1992, Steve Young had emerged as the 49ers' starting QB. Montana was traded to the Chiefs in 1993 and led them to the AFC Championship. He returned Kansas City to the postseason in 1994, but after a first-round loss he retired.
Joe Namath
New York Jets, 1965-1976
Los Angeles Rams, 1977
Broadway Joe is most well-known for brashly proclaiming that his Jets would upset the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III and then delivering on his promise.
With the Jets shopping Namath in 1977 but unable to engineer a trade, they released him. Namath found a home with the Rams, but previous injuries had taken a toll on his body. After four games with Los Angeles, Namath's playing career was over.
Johnny Unitas
Pittsburgh Steelers, 1955
Baltimore Colts, 1956-1972
San Diego Chargers, 1973
Johnny Unitas threw for 40,239 yards and 290 touchdowns over the course of his career. He was a nine-time All-Pro and was named to the Pro Bowl 10 times. Unitas also was the first quarterback to throw for more than 40,000 yards, and his 47-game touchdown streak between 1956-1960 is one that may never be broken.
Unitas was traded to the San Diego Charges in 1973, but the Hall of Famer retired after just one season.
Marcus Allen
Los Angeles Raiders, 1982-1992
Kansas City Chiefs, 1993-1997
Marcus Allen rushed for 12,243 yards and 123 touchdowns during his career and was a six-time Pro Bowl selection. He also was the MVP of Super Bowl XVIII after running for 191 yards and scoring two touchdowns to lead the Raiders past the Redskins, 38-9. After problems with Raiders' owner Al Davis, Allen joined the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993. He rushed for 764 yards and scored 12 touchdowns, and his achievements earned him recognition as the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Allen went on to play for K.C. for four more seasons.
O.J. Simpson
Buffalo Bills, 1969-1977
San Francisco 49ers, 1978-1979
Before O.J. Simpson was known for his exploits in the court room and trying to "find the real killers," he was one of the greatest running backs the NFL had ever seen as part of the Buffalo Bills. He tallied 11,236 yards and 61 touchdowns, was a five-time All Pro, a six-time Pro Bowl selection and the NFL MVP in 1973.
But many may forget that Simpson ended his career with the San Francisco 49ers. After his 1977 season was cut short by an injury, the Bills traded O.J. to the 49ers. Simpson, however, was never really able to get back on track and retired in 1979.
Reggie White
Memphis Showboats, 1984-1985
Philadelphia Eagles, 1985-1992
Green Bay Packers 1993-1998
Carolina Panthers, 2000
Reggie White started his career in the USFL, but he really made a name for himself in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and then the Green Bay Packers. In the course of a career in which he recorded 1,112 tackles and 198 sacks, White was a 13-time Pro Bowler, a 10-time All-Pro, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and a Super Bowl Champion with the Packers (XXXI).
White became a free agent in 1993 and left the Eagles to sign with the Packers. White went to two Super Bowls with the Packers, winning one of them. It was the only championship he won on any level. White retired in 1999 but came back in 2000 to play with the Carolina Panthers. He recorded only 16 tackles but still managed six sacks before retiring at the end of the season.
Ronnie Lott
San Francisco 49ers, 1981-1990
Los Angeles Raiders, 1991-1992
New York Jets, 1993-1994
Kansas City Chiefs, 1995
Ronnie Lott is one of the hardest-hitting defensive backs in NFL history. He was a 10-time Pro Bowler, earning selections as both a cornerback and a safety. He recorded 63 interceptions and notched five touchdowns throughout his career and also was an All-Pro nine times. He helped lead the 49ers to eight division titles and four Super Bowl victories.
Lott signed with the Raiders in 1991, going on to lead the league in interceptions that year but stayed for just one more season before signing with the Jets in 1993. His tenure in New York didn't last any longer, and after two years left left for Kansas City. Playing with the Chiefs in 1995, Lott was injured in the preseason. He signed with the 49ers in 1995, but his injuries kept him from ever suiting up, and his career ended.
Thurman Thomas
Buffalo Bills, 1988-1999
Miami Dolphins, 2000
Thurman Thomas helped lead the Buffalo Bills to four staight Super Bowls and recorded 12,074 yards and 88 touchdowns during his career. Thomas was selected to the Pro Bowl five times and was a six-time All Pro. He also was named the NFL MVP in 1991. Thomas is the only player in NFL history to lead the league in total yards from scrimmage for four consecutive seasons.
Thomas played 12 consecutive seasons with the Bills, but Buffalo ran out of room under the salary cap so Thomas signed with the Dolphins in 2000. He suffered a knee injury in November that year and never was able to return to competitive action.
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